Dev environment: add support and documentation for Docker

.dockerignore

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Contributors to the Power Grid Model project <powergridmodel@lfenergy.org>
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+
+src/power_grid_model/_core/power_grid_model_c/lib/libpower_grid_model_c.so

docs/working_with_containers/container-setup.md

@@ -11,12 +11,18 @@ the Python side.
 
 ## Setup Requirements
 
-To begin using the container there are two open-source applications that must be installed.
+To begin using the container, you have several options, e.g.:
+
+* Podman + DevPod (both are free, open-source tools)
+* Docker + DevPod (NOTE: Docker Desktop requires a subscription that is not free for commercial usage)
 
 * Podman (<https://podman.io/>) - a container engine that lets developers build, run, and manage containers and pods
 without needing a background service.
 * DevPod (<https://devpod.sh/>) - a tool that instantiates reproducible, disposable development environments allowing
 developers to code inside the containers with their usual editors.
+* Docker (<https://www.docker.com/>) - a popular container platform that uses a background service (daemon) to build,
+run, and manage containerized applications. (NOTE: Docker Desktop requires a subscription that is not free for
+commercial usage).
 
 ## The Recommended Setup Process
 
@@ -28,34 +34,55 @@ Firstly, setup the repository by cloning it into the desired destination.
 git clone <https>
 ```
 
-Make sure that you are in the right branch, the branch should have ".devcontainer" folder in it.
+Make sure that you are on the right branch.
 
-### DevPod Setup
+### Podman and DevPod Setup
 
-Secondly, open DevPod and go into the "Providers" section. There click on "+ Add", select the docker icon, give it a
-name and click on save. In the same window open advanced settings and under Docker path add the path to podman.exe (If
-you are on Windows, it likely is in Program Files\RedHat directory).
+#### DevPod Setup
+
+Open DevPod and go into the "Providers" section. There click on "+ Add", select the docker icon, give it a
+name and click on save. In the same window open advanced settings and under Docker path add the path to 'podman'
+executable (If you are on Windows, it likely is in Program Files\RedHat directory).
 
-### Podman Setup
+#### Podman Setup
 
-Thirdly, to initialize Podman the Podman Desktop application has to be opened and "initialize and start" button has to
+To initialize Podman the Podman Desktop application has to be opened and "initialize and start" button has to
 be pressed. If the start succeeds, there will be a keyword "RUNNING" in green displayed.
 
-### Initializing the container
+#### Initializing the container
 
 Finally, to initialize and open the container everything will be done through DevPod.
 
 * Upon openning DevPod go to "Workspaces" and click on "Create Workspace".
 * Under the "Enter Workspace Source", select the "Folder" option and navigate to the destination where you cloned the
 repository to.
 * Under the "Default IDE" select VSCode.
-* Under "Provider" select the provider that you have setup previously (it should have the docker icon, but the path
-should be to podman.exe)
+* Under "Provider" select the provider that you have setup previously (it should have the docker icon)
 
 Finally, click "Create Workspace"
 
+### Docker and DevPod Setup
+
+#### Docker Setup
+
+Before you begin, install Docker Desktop and open it. It will initialize automatically when launched.
+
+#### DevPod Setup
+
+Secondly, open DevPod and go into the "Providers" section. There click on "+ Add", select the docker icon, give it a
+name and click on save. DevPod should find the PATH to the 'docker' executable itself, however if you think that there
+are issues within your setup you can adjust the PATH in the advanced settings by adding the path to the 'docker'
+executable under Docker path.
+
+For the final initialization step, see [Initializing the container](#initializing-the-container).
+
 ## Possible solutions to issues during setup
 
 * If you are facing issues while building the container then try and allocate more memory in Podman. Go to
 Podman -> Settings (Bottom left corner) -> Resources -> Edit.
 * Try and make a fresh clone of the repository and redo the setup on it.
+
+## Support for Apple Container
+
+We have tested a container setup with Apple's container app. However, currently there is not a simplistic way to open
+that container within VSCode. With future plugin developments we expect to add support for Apple's container.